Scientific Method

At some point in your high school or science career, you will be asked to solve at least one problem using the scientific method. The scientific method involves stating the problem, researching options and possibilities, testing these possibilities and forming a conclusion or theory. Even if the first test does not prove the expected conclusion, the failure to do so will provide a springboard to another hypothesis.

When you are writing a paper on the scientific method, write down the problem and look at the conditions surrounding the problems. Write a title then write out what you want to do. Carefully write out your observation. Be objective with your findings and get information concerning the problem or situation. Obtaining this information is called a literature review and is an important component of the scientific method. Isolate significant facts then summarize the problem.

After gathering your information, you state your hypothesis then begin to research options surrounding the hypothesis. You have chosen your hypothesis as your answer to the problem. Now you need to test the hypothesis. You do this using numbers, experiments and trial and error. Make conclusions from your results of these tests.

When you note your conclusions, remember to report all the information regardless of whether or not you proved the hypothesis. Even information that did not fit the hypothesis will prove useful to another researcher. It may be useful to write other suggestions for solving the problems.